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MADISON – Senior catcher Kristina Qualben scored the winning run in the fifth inning as the Madison softball team defeated Pequannock 4-3 to win its season opener on Wednesday.

The Dodgers defeated the Panthers for the first time since 2006, according to Madison head coach Rayna Caruso.

“I played here and graduated in 2007, we used to get 10-run ruled by Pequannock every year,” Caruso said. “I think (the victory) says that we can compete with the big dogs now, I think we’re up there now, we’re working very hard. It was a 4-3 game and we played OK defense, we have to play better defense, our bats got out early and we got that late run and then we held them at the end, so that’s huge.”

With the game tied 3-3 with one out in the bottom of the fifth, Qualben worked a walk and advanced to second on a groundout by senior center fielder Jill Caruso. Qualben took off for home when senior first baseman Stephanie Deeb followed with an infield single and was able to score the winning run on an error. Pequannock catcher Steph Pomante then threw to second and caught Deeb trying to stretch her single into a double for the third out.

Pequannock threatened in the top of the sixth when junior center fielder Dana Scillieri led off and reached on an error and senior second baseman Kellyann McClain laid down a bunt single to put runners at first and second with no outs. Pomante followed with a bunt but was thrown out, which advanced the runners, and senior first baseman Rachel Pierson hit a grounder to Madison third baseman Mackaella Goodwin, who threw Scillieri out at home to preserve the 4-3 lead.

“We were expecting them to come out strong, we know they’re a strong program and they always are,” Madison pitcher Caitlyn Massaro said of the Panthers. “They win states, they win counties, they win their conference, but we just knew we had to get our hits, win every inning, play for our team and it worked out for the best.”

Massaro started the game strong, setting down the Panthers with three straight groundouts in the top of the first. Junior shortstop Alyssa Debiasse then led off the bottom of the inning with a triple and scored on a bloop infield single by Goodwin for a 1-0 lead. Qualben followed with a two-run homer to center field to give Madison a 3-0 advantage.

“It felt awesome, first hit of the season, first hit of my last year at Madison so it was a good way to start off my season,” Qualben said. “We knew we had to come out very strong because Pequannock is a great team and we needed to set the tone and get up early.”

After another strong inning from Massaro in the top of the second, Pequannock answered back in the top of the third. With one out junior right fielder Natalie Trautwein was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Sophomore third baseman Jen Sigler reached on an error and also stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Klimek then followed with a single and advanced to second on an error, which scored Trautwein and Sigler for a 3-2 game. Klimek then came home from second on a wild pitch to tie the game 3-3.

Massaro allowed three runs on two hits, walked one and struck out one in seven innings of work. For Pequannock, sophomore Jonnalynn McClain allowed four runs on five hits, all in the first inning, walked three and struck out five in six innings.

“She’s amazing, she’s a sophomore, she’s a lefty and she’s got a sick drop and just an unreal spin on the ball, not a lot of people are used to seeing a lefty pitcher, but she comes in there and she owns the mound every single time,” Caruso said of Massaro. “She owns it, she plays her position very well and she’s the reason why we won this game today.”